As a Malay one may easily be tempted to come out with emotional and racist comments on why the Chinese still desert Barisan Nasional. And Chinese readers may also be tempted to give equally racist answers. Such a situation is not healthy and may lead to further political instability, worst still to social instability and security issues.

In Malaysia all races need to tolerate and help each other. There is no sense for Chinese to touch on Bumiputera rights enshrined in our Constitution or for some UMNO leaders to brag about granting of citizenships to Chinese. These are part of history and must be respected by all parties.

The causes for dismal Chines support for BN in Hulu Selangor are complex, as described well in today’s The Star by its columnist Joceline Tan. They are less emotional when come to voting, but calculative. Many issues still affect them, such as the toppling of DAP backed government in Perak, racially sensitive comments by an UMNO Minister during election time, and many other reasons she mentioned.

But PM Najib is tackling these issues very well. He is respected for understanding the issues and making real efforts to face it in his 1 Malaysia concept and New Economic Model. Many believed that these have created goodwill that would eventually translate into Chinese votes.

I believe what Joceline said about Chinese is correct. They are not by nature in opposition.

After all MCA has been a Major patner to BN for a long time. Chinese votes saved BN in 1999 election and strongly supported it in 2004 election. Even in 2008 election, there was no substantial desertion by Chinese loyalists, as about 40% were still with BN. These are facts of my research in the past.

There is no need to handout too many financial goodies to the Chinese, as they may not need it. But it is the long term effect of Najib’s 1 Malaysia and New Economic Model that will eventually win over the Chinese heart and votes.

Malays must be beware of calls to punish the Chinese by Malay Ultras. It can be done by cementing support from Indians and other Bumiputeras, leaving the Chinese in the opposition, without giving them any meaningful positions in the government. But it is a disasterous idea to alienate any one race as the nation need unity of all races, the basic ingredients for interracial harmony, stability and prosperity for the country. Malaysia is altready lagging behind our neighbours in economic growth and we cannot afford to prolong this misery. We need to rebulid our national pride as in Tun Mahathir era and don’t look back.

At the same time, there was also a degree of frustration amid the upbeat mood because the Chinese vote had not moved to Barisan. Only about 20% of those in Chinese-majority areas had helped Barisan’s P. Kamalanathan to win.

“We can’t deny it. The Chinese ground has not shifted since the 2008 general election,” said Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, who heads the MCA think-tank Insap.

Things could have been worse. The reading shortly after nomination day was that up to 85% of the Chinese would support PKR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

The Chinese are not born to be anti-government nor are they ungrateful for what they have.

They have given overwhelming support to Barisan many times. In 1995, they voted for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership; in 1999, they propped him up against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reformasi movement; in 2004, they embraced the incoming Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

They have always been very tactical about the power of their vote. The post-Merdeka generation especially feel they are 100% Malaysian. They do not see why they have to put up with quotas when it comes to education, job and business opportunities and even when buying homes

There is no need to handout too many financial goodies to the Chinese, as they may not need it. But it is the long term effect of Najib’s 1 Malaysia and New Economic Model that will eventually win over the Chinese heart and votes.

Mika,
Dank U. Indeed I am doing something about the By-election in Sarawak. I will write articles on forecast and commentry on it.
May I ask wie ben je? Uit Nederland of Vlaamse van Belgie? en ben je en Arab Muslim uit Nederland of en Malaysie?
Sorry, I am not proficient in Dutch, I didn’t practise it for over 30 years. and I only learned simple language as my MBA course was conducted in English over 30 yrs ago.